C-C bond Activation: Cycloheptatriene Reaction on W(100), W(100)-(5X1)-C,and W(100)-(2X1)-O

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00307a012

The adsorption and reaction of cycloheptatriene (c-C7H8) was investigated on W(100), W(100)-(5X1)-C, and W(100)-(2X1)-O surfaces under ultra-high-vacuum conditions with use of thermal desorption spectroscopy and isotope exchange reactions.Irreversible dehydrogenation yielding gaseous H2 was the only reaction observed on clean W(100).Cycloheptatriene dehydrogenation was suppressed on W(100)-(5X1)-C, allowing reactions involving C-C bond activation to produced.Benzene formation was uniquely observed on the -(5X1)-C surface.Reaction of cycloheptatriene-7d₁ on W(100)-(5X1)-C demonstrated that the 7-position was initially dehydrogenated, yielding a coordinated C7H7 adsorption intermediate which subsequently eliminated one carbon to yield benzene.